Wockhardt Foundation launches new initiative towards organ donation

Wockhardt Foundation, a not-for-profit organization engaged in social service and human welfare activities launches its new initiative ‘Organ Daan’, advocating organ donation, with a mission to educate and sensitize the public about organ donation and encourage pledging of organs.

Every year in India, 5 lakh people die waiting for organs to be transplanted. Though 2,00,000 people need a kidney every year, only 3% get it. Organ donation rate in India is 0.34 per million, and is among the lowest in the world standing at 0.08% as organ donors per million (PMP). A step to overcome at least a part of the need Wockhardt Foundation has come up with the new initiative- ‘Organ Daan’

Organ Daan is a programme aimed at spreading public awareness about importance of donating organs and encouraging pledging of organs for transplantation to save lives. The programme would focus on educating the public by breaking the barriers, myths and misconceptions surrounding organ donation and thereby encouraging volunteered organ donation which is ultimately necessary to control commercial transplantation or organ trafficking.

Dr. Huzaifa Khorakiwala, CEO, Trustee, Wockhardt Foundation said, ‘We Indians always preserve good stuff, we avoid wastage, I think same should be applied to our valuable organs. Organs are precious. Organ donation is a good way to help a needy live good life even after our demise. Let’s promote it and do it.”

‘Organ Daan’ programme would promote organ donation through hospitals, campaigns and numerous volunteers across cities. The programme would have a strong virtual presence by campaigning via social media and in fact, one would be able to register their pledges to donate organs through the website www.organ-daan.org and the soon-to-be launched ‘Organ Daan’ app.